Daily Schmankerl: Alaba still undecided as agents meet with Bayern, Olympique Marseille targets Cuisance, Bayern and Arsenal target Hammarby talent

Alaba undecided after agents meet Bayern, PSG and Barca interested (Sky Sport)

Sky Sport’s Max Bielefeld (@Sky_MaxB) gave an update on the state of negotiations between David Alaba and Bayern Munich on “Transfer Update — die Show.” According to Bielefeld, a meeting between Alaba’s agents — presumably including Pini Zahavi and his father George — took place in Munich on Wednesday:

“According to our information, a new meeting between the agents of David Alaba and FC Bayern took place this week. That was on Wednesday here in Munich. Nothing has bene decided yet, though. Alaba himself still has not yet decided what he wants to do in the future. Two hearts are beating in his breast: he has had a very good time in Munich, was trained here, grew into a professional here, and has been in the club for ten years. That obviously means something to him.”

Bielefeld concedes, however, that Alaba could make a small fortune in signing bonuses if he were to leave Bayern Munich on a free transfer in 2021: “But he has the luxury situation of being able to leave on a free transfer in summer 2021. He obviously could make a real ton of money that way. There definitely is interest in him — PSG and FC Barcelona. They’d be all to happy to put him under contract on a free transfer. But everythign is still wide-open and things remain exciting.”

Olympique Marseille manager targeting Michael Cuisance for loan (L’Équipe)

Olympique Marseille coach André Villas-Boas is interested in Bayern Munich’s young up-and-coming midfielder Michael Cuisance. According to L’Équipe, Villas-Boas is targeting players like Cuisance who could contribute to the team on loan so as to stay smart on the transfer market.

L’Équipe writes, “André Villas-Boas has submitted a list of fifteen names to his superiors to reinforce Olympique Marseille. The midfielder of Bayern Munich, Mickaël Cuisance, and that of Le Havre, Pape Gueye, appear on it.

Cuisance has shown much promise under Hansi Flick, who has rewarded the youngster for his excellent work in training with several appearances with the first team. Cuisance, voted Mönchengladbach’s player of the season in 2017, could be an appealing addition. The question is what Bayern and Flick have planned for him: is he needed as a first-team backup or is he a luxury that Bayern could forgo? The arrival of Adrian Fein from HSV Hamburg and the potential departure of Thiago Alcantara, among other things, could play a part in deciding his future.

Bayern, Arsenal chasing Hammarby teenager (fotbollskanalen)

Both Bayern Munich and Arsenal are looking at signing 17-year-old Emil Roback from Hammarby in Sweden. The young player has already visited with Arsenal; however, at the moment, no transfer offers have been made.

Roback made his first team debut this weekend, coming on in the 74th minute of Hammarby’s quartefinal loss to IFK Göteborg in the Svenska Cupen. The match went to extra time where Göteborg won 3-1.

If Bayern were to sign the Roback, he would almost certainly join up with the club’s U19 side.

Wolfsburg sporting director: Davies “the best left-back in the league” (AZ)

Welcome to the Phonzie fan club, Herr Marcel Schäfer! Wolfsburg’s sporting director spoke with Abendzeitung about Bayern’s Bundesliga dominance and Alphonso Davies, among other things.

Asked whether he felt that Bayern’s eighth consecutive title was to the detriment of the league, he responded:

It is a bit monotonous, but FC Bayern has deserved these successes with fantastic work for many years. You have to have respect for that. Last season, Bayern had fallen far behind Dortmund and still became champion, after they had already been practically written off. This season it was similar — including a coaching change. And now they are champion again. That shows what extraordinary players FC Bayern has. For the neutral fan, of course, it would be nice if there was a different champion now and again.

Schäfer also commented on the incredible season that Rookie of the Year Alphonso Davies has played. He is obviously no stranger to the talent: it emerged that Wolfsburg was also interested in signing Davies before Bayern entered the picture (Transfermarkt). Schäfer said:

Davies’s development has been one of the best in the entire Bundesliga. When you see where he was before the season and how he presents himself now, that is extraordinary. He is probably already now the best left-back in the league and one of the best in the world. Davies has factors in his game, especially this incredible speed, that are hard to defend against.

The legend Claudio Pizarro heads off to retirement

Saturday’s match between Werder Bremen and FC Köln will be the final one in the legendary career of Claudio Pizarro. The former Bayern forward has finally decided that it’s time to hang up the boots. The Bundesliga’s all-time leading goalscorer for foreign players will possibly not even make the field in his final match.

Florian Kohfeldt likely won’t turn to Pizarro in the match for anything other than desperation minutes. Werder are fighting for their lives to stay in the Bundesliga for another season, and they don’t even hold their own fate in their hands. If Fortuna Düsseldorf beat Union Berlin, the result in the Werder match will not matter. In his last match in the Bundesliga, Pizarro will see his team relegated.

Did you know that it’s been five years since Pizarro last wore a Bayern shirt? He’s perfect. We love him. Long live Claudio Pizarro!

Bayern Frauen II sign Amelie Schuster (NordBayern.de)

Bayern have signed 16 year old Amelie Schuster to join Frauen II in the 2.Bundesliga for next season. Schuster has been playing with the boys teams at SG Quelle Fürth, and is prepared to take the next step. “In terms of speed, it should remain about the same, but the quality of the game will certainly increase.”

Schuster’s been capped at the U15 and U16 national team level.

Quelle doesn’t have a women’s professional side, so it was always certain that Schuster would be leaving the club this summer in order to progress in her career. Still, Bayern Munich is BAYERN MUNICH. Quelle’s youth director Bernd Winter said, “For us, it is also proof that we can evaluate our youth work positively.”

Schuster joins 15 year old Sonja Lux as the newest FCB II players.